The Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology was founded in 1872 under the first head Viktor von Ebner-Rofenstein. Viktor von Ebner-Rofenstein was a student of the physiologist Alexander Rollet, the first holder of a professorship for physiology and histology at the medical faculty of the Karl-Franzens-University Graz, which was established in 1863.
"...die Annahme der Speichelkapillaren scheint mir auch einigermaßen begreiflich zu machen, dass Sekretionszellen vorhanden sein können, die das Lumen des Alveolus gar nicht berühren, wie die Zellen des Halbmonds, von dessen Selbstständigkeit ich mich neuerdings besonders schön an der Submaxillaris der Katze überzeugte..."
Viktor von Ebner-Rofenstein, erster Vorstand des Instituts für Histologie und Embryologie
The first habilitation as well as the first professorship of a woman in the history of the University of Graz can be found at the Institute of Histology and Embryology. Dora Börner-Patzelt was the first woman in the history of the University of Graz to habilitate at the Institute of Histology and Embryology in 1929, while Carla Zawisch-Ossenitz was appointed the first female professor of histology and embryology at the University of Graz in 1947.
In 2005, the subject was expanded and from then on was called the Institute of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology at the Medical University of Graz. The fact that this subject emerged from the subject of physiology makes it clear that the connection between structure and function is a central concern for all teachers and scientists at this institute.
In 2018, the Institute of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology was renamed the Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology and became part of the Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging when it moved to the newly built campus of the Medical University of Graz.
Transcript of the medical student Rudolf Rigler, later full professor of physiology at the Medical Faculty of Graz, from the histology lecture by Prof. Viktor von Ebner-Rofenstein (1883/84).
